Alchemy

Natasha, I paint now : www.natashagillart.com

[soulsistrin]

I just arrived at the cafe where I’ll be meeting my cousins and no one is here yet but look at how pretty this place is!

It’s called Canvas Cafe and they have art supplies and coloring books and stuff.

My drink is really pretty too!

[interminimal]

[soulsistrin]

*gasp*

[soulsistrin]

I’ve been learning chess on Duolingo. I’m quite enjoying it.

My brother tried to teach me when I was a kid and I ended up crying. The only thing I retained from that lesson was how the knight moved. Probably cause it looked like a horse 🤣

I’m still getting the different moves down but so far I’m having fun. I finally get what all the fuss is about.

[soulsistrin]

I have a date to meet up with some of my cousins on my mom’s side on Wednesday and I’m kind of excited and a tiny bit nervous.

My mom didn’t grow up close to her dad’s side (the Indian Muslim side) and I’ve only met a few relatives here and there. One of the cousins, Ibrahim, and I are friends on social media. His dad Omar, who I’ve met, is actually my first cousin, but he’s probably in his late 70’s, and Ibrahim is my age (my grandfather started having children when he was very young, Omar’s father is from his first set of kids).

When I had a family tree assignment for my sociology class a while back, I had posted about it on TikTok and he asked me about it and I told him I’d send him the document. I only remembered to send it a few months ago, and they apparently passed it around the family. That prompted them to want to meet up with me and here we are.

My family on that side is massive. My grandfather was one of seven children and some of them had lots of children. My grandfather had 8 I think, four by my grandmother and the rest by two other women before her. I met two of my mom’s half brothers when I was a teenager and they were lovely. Unfortunately they passed a long time ago. One of the British cousins has done an extensive family tree that is pages and pages long and we have cousins all over the world.

Aside from Ibrahim, I’m not even sure who I’m meeting up with on Wednesday. But I’m sure with some pen and paper we’ll be able to figure it all out. I have to remember to take a notebook.

[soulsistrin]

I’m looking at an art tutorial and omg some people should not be teaching. You can talk and do at the same time. Some people have such dry personalities 🥱

[soulsistrin]

I finally had the time to finish this piece yesterday. She’s been unbelievably difficult to photograph, partly because she’s still very wet but also because my camera always leans toward warm and the colours are very cool-toned. In person she looks a lot more… I don’t know, dynamic? Anyways I’m very pleased with her. Still have to come up with a name, any suggestions are welcome 😊

[soulsistrin]

After weeks of editing and re-editing, I finally sent off my chapters to my advisor today.

Her response, which was so kind:

Hi Natasha

Relax. Breathe. Take a break.

Thank you for your efforts. Will review and provide feedback as soon as...

[soulsistrin]

Morning y’all! I woke up to rain this morning with thunder rolling in the distance. I love the rainy season 🌧️💕

[soulsistrin]

I slow-baked some pork ribs tonight for the first time and made a guava-based sauce. They were so tender they started to fall apart when we plated them. They tasted just like the ribs we used to get from this restaurant in Caracas called Mister Ribs. I’m not often impressed with myself but I was tonight. I just had to say that.

[soulsistrin]

When I got up this morning I just wet my hands and finger combed my hair and left it alone. I usually slick it down with gel but today I said fuck it. And this is how it stayed. I dig it.

My hair has changed texture from when it first grew out, becoming a bit looser. I decided I want to grow it back out. I like the short hair but I also miss having something to play with.

This is my next goal. Not sure how long this will take but I’ve always loved having big hair and this looks somewhat close to my texture. I can have fun with this!

[soulsistrin]

They’ve been doing a deep sea exploration of our costal waters for the first time ever and they found what they think might be a previously undiscovered species of octopus.

You guys look how cuuuuuuute! And she’s purple too!!!! Adorbs 😍

[soulsistrin]

I spent a lot of time on my feet in the kitchen yesterday, and at one point I took a seat because I was waiting on something.

Then it suddenly occurred to me that in all that time, I hadn’t once needed to sit because of fatigue. Half an hour is usually my limit, but hours had passed and I didn’t feel tired. That really lifted my spirits. Progress!

[spin-the-wheel-polls]

you have won a lifetime supply of this

How do you feel?

good!

I CAN SELL THIS AND GET RICH

im drowning in my supply help

Eh it's okay

BAD. VERY BAD

results/other

Voting ended onJul 15

you would receive the supply once a month

the brand/type will vary so you could

you can sell the things you get/give them away but they will keep coming until you die

[soulsistrin]

Meh. I’m not sure what to do with a lifetime supply of buttons.

[sizzlingsandwichperfection-blog]

with a little help from his older brother, Hank Green has invented an absurdly enjoyable word-spelling game called smush.

[soulsistrin]

I was watching the Switzerland-Colombia match yesterday. The match went into overtime and then penalties. I was tired. I fell asleep. I woke up. The match was still going on. I kept myself awake to see the outcome cause I was supporting Switzerland (land of my birth so I felt obligated even though I have no real emotional connection to the place).

We get to the penalties and Switzerland is about to take the last shot of the game. If they get it, it will decide the outcome of the game.

And do you know what happened?

My fucking tv suddenly blanks out the screen and asks me if I’m still watching. I can’t see anything I can just hear the match. By the time I pick up the remote control and figure out what button to press, the goal has been scored, the match won, everyone has celebrated.

I’m was SO pissed. I waited over two hours to be denied the final play.

I have to figure out how to turn that shit off or I’ll mash up that damn television.

[soulsistrin]

We finally retrieved my mom’s iPad from the airport yesterday. Rex had something to take care of in the general area, so we killed two birds with one stone. The transaction was seamless because this time I had all my ducks in a row. My mom of course was very grateful, but I think she could have expressed some of that gratitude when I spent ages on the phone locating the iPad, and then another hour of wasted time when I tried to collect it last time. But I guess the only thing important was getting it back.

Unfortunately it’s stuck here for the while as I don’t know anyone heading up to Florida who can deliver it to her. I ain’t mailing it.

[starlightxraven]